Our Wildlife Fact Sheet Eastern Grey Kangaroo Introduction

One of the most recognisable and well known animals in Australia is the Kangaroo. The Eastern Grey Kangaroo, a large grass eating marsupial, is a familiar sight in Victoria and is one of eight members of the kangaroo family found in Victoria.

Kangaroos are able to maintain a speed of 20km per hour for long periods of time. For short periods, they can hop at speeds of up to 65km per hour.

Most kangaroos can only move their back legs at the same time.

“Skippy” the bush kangaroo was an Eastern Grey Kangaroo.’

The Kangaroo and Emu are on Australia’s Coat of Arms. It is thought they were chosen as they are the only two Australian animals that can’t move backwards. The Coat of Arms therefore symbolises a nation moving forward.

Kangaroos give birth to under-developed young that are suckled in a pouch on the mother’s belly.

Eastern Grey Kangaroos can breed throughout the year, however most births occur during summer or in response to favourable conditions.

Joeys are born 36 days after conception and climb into the pouch where they suckle until around nine months of age.

Young joeys remain with their mother for approximately 18 months after leaving the pouch.

Females may have a second joey in their pouch while still tending young at foot.

Kangaroos live in groups called mobs. These groups have a dominant male that attempts to prevent other males from mating with receptive females.

Females often stay with other females in groups. Competition between males can occasionally lead to fights.
What you can do to help!

To protect kangaroo habitat, you can help by improving native vegetation on your property. Kangaroos need trees for shelter and resting.

Be aware of road signs indicating Kangaroos in the area and slow down. Kangaroos may be feeding along the road. Be especially careful at dawn and dusk.

If you do see kangaroos or other wildlife when driving, be careful and give them plenty of time and space to move off the road.

Control your dog: dogs can harass and injure kangaroos and other wildlife.

Eastern Grey Kangaroos are one of the most abundant macropods in Australia. In some areas they may be considered a pest. There are a number of ways humans and kangaroos can live together. For more information on living with kangaroos, please visit the DSE website at www.dse.vic.gov.au.

Printed by Biodiversity Conservation, 2/8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne
For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186. This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
www.dse.vic.gov.au